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Welcome to Byrd Central

400th anniversary of English Renaissance composer, William Byrd

We are a group of academics, educators, and musicians creating and disseminating events, new scholarship, stories, and recordings related to the 2023 anniversary of the death of Tudor composer William Byrd. New site areas and content will be released over the course of the year. 

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Upcoming Events

  • William Byrd Singers, Manchester
    Sat, 18 Mar
    Stoller Hall, Manchester
    18 Mar, 19:30 GMT
    Stoller Hall, Manchester, Hunts Bank, Manchester M3 1DA, UK
    Alongside the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble, the William Byrd Singers will take to The Stoller Hall stage to give voice to anthems and motets by Byrd & Weelkes, rounding the concert off with a complete performance of Byrd’s massive Great Service.
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  • New College BBC Radio 3 Choral Evensong
    Wed, 08 Feb
    New College Oxford
    08 Feb, 16:00 GMT
    New College Oxford, Holywell St, Oxford OX1 3BN, UK
    The Choir of New College, Oxford, sings music by Byrd live on BBC Radio 3: the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis from the ‘Great’ Service, the motet Exsurge Domine, and an introit by Byrd’s younger contemporary and fellow-anniversarian Thomas Weelkes. Open to the public; please be seated by 3:45pm.
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  • Byrd-a-Thon
    Fri, 03 Feb
    St Mary Magdalen Oxford
    03 Feb, 17:00 GMT – 04 Feb, 17:00 GMT
    St Mary Magdalen Oxford, 9 Magdalen St, Oxford OX1 3AE, UK
    A collaborative complete performance of the Latin choral works of William Byrd to raise money for the music fund at the Church of St Mary Magdalen, Oxford. Conducted by Will Dawes and Guests.
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  • Gesualdo Six, Fretwork: Secret Byrd
    Sat, 28 Jan
    St Martin-in-the-Fields, London
    28 Jan, 21:00
    St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, St Martin-In-The Fields Church, London, UK
    Hear Byrd’s Mass for 5 Voices as he intended: sung for private worship in strictest secrecy. Created and Directed by Bill Barclay.
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  • Stile Antico: England's Nightingale
    Fri, 27 Jan
    St Mary the Virgin, Oxford
    27 Jan, 20:00 GMT
    St Mary the Virgin, Oxford, The, High St, Oxford OX1 4BJ, UK
    Stile Antico marks 400 years since the death of William Byrd by exploring the many faces of this extraordinary composer, perhaps the greatest that England has ever produced.
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  • King's Singers & Fretwork: Tom & Will
    Tue, 24 Jan
    Wigmore Hall, London
    24 Jan, 19:30 GMT
    Wigmore Hall, London, 36 Wigmore St, London W1U 2BP, UK
    A celebration by two leading groups of early-music performers of Thomas Weelkes and William Byrd – plus one or two others.
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